Grit takes over Two Cats Kitchen - the acclaimed restaurant helmed by chef Niki Astley. Mr Astley made the shock announcement it was closing the restaurant in July - blaming “volatile trading conditions”

Two Cats staff will continue to work at newly revamped restaurant but Mr Astley will be stepping away from the business to pursue a separate restaurant venture.

Mr Astley said “ It was very sad to announce the closure of Two Cats but it is not a move I regret. I still own the lease but the staff have come together to save the restaurant and take over the running, under a new name and new concept.

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Food

The Two Cats Baltic cuisine concept began as Two Cats Roaming Kitchen in April 2014 serving ‘New Baltic’ food at different events, before opening a 26-seater restaurant off Warstone Lane in July 2015.

Despite a glowing national review in The Guardian newspaper, Mr Astley revamped the menu in March as he said he found the Baltic theme was "too restrictive." A few months later he announced the restaurant's closure.

Catfish-and-grits at Salt and Earth pop up at 1000 Trades in August 2016 (Image: Sanjeeta Bains)

Mr Astley told us he will be concentrating on a new concept Salt and Earth which he first launched last summer as a pop up at Jewellery Quarter pub 1000 Trades.

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“ I only had a week to work on it back then but now I will have the time needed to continue the pop- ups, learn from mistakes, refine the concept and improve it in the same way I was able to do when I started the Two Cats Roaming Kitchen, Ultimately my aim is to open a permanent Salt and Earth restaurant.

Salt and Earth menu (Image: Sanjeeta Bains)

Grit will open on Tuesday October 17

It will be open for lunch Tuesday to Saturday from 12 -2pm and for dinner, Monday to Saturday evenings from 6pm

Booking are now being taken and can be made by email at gritjq@gmail.com - phone lines will open from October 17th.